Vasudha Pansare

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Film Review Gifted. A 2017 film directed by Marc Webb. This is one of the best films I have watched recently. Mary is the gifted child, a maths whizz like her mother who is no more. She is being brought up by her uncle. When her grandmother comes to know about her, she wants her custody. The film is about complicated relationships and what a seven year old child really needs. Mary and her uncle are brilliant in their respective roles. Octavia Spencer is excellent as the neighbor. I loved the film. Do watch it if you haven't already. ©Vasudha Pansare

Winter's Tale. A 2014 film directed by Akiva Goldsman,based on a novel by Mark Helprin, is pure fantasy, totally over the top and yet manages to impress and hold your attention because of its exquisite love story and because of its metaphorical narrative about the conflict between good and evil. The special effects in this supernatural drama are excellent and the film is a visual treat. Performances of Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown, Russell Crowe and Will Smith are superb. The message of the film is positive : Evil is self destructive and can never win.

American Son. A 2019 film/play directed by Kenny Leon and based on a play by Christopher Demos Brown is gripping drama , but unfortunately too loud with too much talk and not convincing enough. The film is like a television play with just four characters. The story focuses on a missing son of an interacial couple. The mother and the father wait at a Florida police station for news about him. The mother comes across as a very possessive and protective person who is also very loud, very rude, aggressive, rather obnoxious in her behavior. She's almost hysterical in her interaction with the police and her husband. An extremely nagging kind , which is why her husband must have left her and also she has had a big quarrel with her son too. Her superior attitude is unbearable. It's a well directed film but the plot is full of holes. The racial issues are highlighted but not explored convincingly. Performances are great though.

Love Actually. A 2003 film written and directed by Richard Curtis. A wonderful romantic comedy, hugely entertaining and heart warming. And what a fantastic star cast. Hugh Grant as the PM of England was truly superb. And then there was Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman,Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, and so many delightful stars with fabulous roles. Multiple love stories, some of them quite mushy create that Christmassy atmosphere. Do watch it to enrich the festive season. I have watched it twice and enjoyed it each time.

Meet Joe Black. A 1998 film directed by Martin Brest is a fascinating fantasy,an exquisite romance and a slow paced thought provoking narrative. I watched this film in installments. I would not have enjoyed it in one sitting. Death (Brad Pitt ) comes to Bill Parrish(Anthony Hopkins) to take him away and falls in love with his daughter Susan ( Claire Forlani). There is also in the background, an unscrupulous crook who wants to sell Parrish Communications to another crook . There is also a back story to the romance which is quite interesting. If you like quiet films which will make you pause and ponder and if you enjoy slow romances do watch this one. The two things I didn't like were Brad Pitt's blonde wig and the ending which was totally unsatisfactory and rather bizarre. But the performances were brilliant.

The Laundromat. A 2019 film based on the real events surrounding the Panama Papers leak, directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film focuses on how the world's richest people hide their money in shell companies and how they are helped by unscrupulous lawyers Mossack and Fonesca. It's a very complex film with many stories and layers and locations. Meryl Streep,a widow who has lost her insurance money after a horrific accident in which she lost her husband,is determined to make the culprits pay. And how she does that is the complicated narrative. It's interesting to note that a couple of Prime Ministers had to resign after the documents were leaked but no action was taken against anyone in India though big names were involved. An excellent comedy about money laundering which is very relevant and very entertaining.

The Fundamentals Of Caring. A 2016 film directed by Rob Burnett and based on a novel by Jonathan Evison. The film focuses on the themes of grief, coping with grief , the difficulty of caregiving, the importance of moving on and finding peace through human relationships. It's a poignant narrative that tugs at your heart and also a dark comedy which can make you smile. Paul Rudd as the writer/caregiver and Craig Roberts as the teen suffering from muscular dystrophy are brilliant. The road trip they embark upon, picking up two young ladies (one of them pregnant),is predictable but entertaining. Trevor's (Craig Roberts) mother is impressive as the independent,no nonsense parent. The film is a learning experience. Do watch it.

Notting Hill. A 1999 film directed by Roger Michell. I watched this wonderful fairy tale again after a long time and loved it again. The floppy haired,shy, self effacing Hugh Grant and the girl with a million dollar smile, seeking true love, Julia Roberts are unforgettable. This is stuff that dreams are made of and the romance is fabulous,yet believable. The other characters too are flawless in their performances. If you are a diehard romantic ,do watch it again. It is mushy and slushy but it will hold your heart and fill it with warmth.

No Escape. A 2015 film directed by John Dowdle. It's a gripping thriller about an American family which has relocated to a country in South East Asia and get trapped in a political coup. Their escape from the terrible situation is rather unbelievable as is the horrifying violence that is the consequence of the political uprising. But the interesting aspect of the film is that it reveals how unsafe foreigners are in such politically unstable countries. Owen Wilson,Lake Bell and Pierce Brosnan are excellent in their roles. Watch the film if you like thrilling and gruesome rollercoaster rides. Nothing great but quite entertaining.